Town exit Cup

The sun was out, it was a warm day, Pollock Park looked splendid and the Lurgan sponsors were enjoying a splendid lunch in the Clubhouse. What a pity the cricket did not live up to expectations as Lurgan crashed out of the AJG Challenge Cup at the first hurdle to Premiership opponents Lisburn. Like a number of other teams facing Premiership opposition on Saturday, Lurgan never looked like springing any surprises in this game and were on the end of a heavy 8 wicket defeat.

Batting first, the Lurgan top order did not have any answer to the ball movement generated by Lisburn’s opening bowler Mark Berry. Tully, Johnston, McCollum and Godbole were all back in the pavilion courtesy of the pacy Berry with only 28 runs on the board. One run later and it was 29 for 6 wkts with Maxwell and Clarke departing, the latter being Berry’s fifth victim and earning him the Man of the Match award. Only a spirited hard hitting 31 by Baig took the home sides innings past the 25 over mark and following his departure, caught by Lazars off the bowling of Simpson, the Lurgan tail was quickly mopped up to leave the visitors needing only 84 for victory.

In reply Simpson (27no) fresh from an unbeaten half century against CIYMS on Friday night, and Lazars (29 no) made sure the result was never in doubt with Andrew Bingham taking one of the two Lisburn wickets to fall, the other being a run out.

Lurgan travel to newly promoted Armagh next Saturday in a league game and a dramatic improvement in batting is required if the first 4 points of the season are to be won.